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RIC Airport

Posted 12 October 2011 - 01:47 AM

I'm guessing that it's because it takes a person to put snowfall data in (as well as measure it- hence why APA and others don't have any snowfall data), but the rest can be completely automated.

If true, that is ridiculous. Most PLCDs have contracted FAA observers recording snowfall and sent to NWS before CLIs are sent. Where is the snowfall measured "for" DEN? Of course it's no longer Stapleton, but if it's there on current DIA property, no reason why it can't be included in the reports. I may just pose the question on their facebook page.

BlizzardWx

Posted 17 October 2011 - 10:14 AM

Had a few showers last night with some gusty NW winds but otherwise the stretch of boredom continues. Our little rain/snow event a week and a half ago was the last real item of interest and I see nothing as of right now in the next two weeks.

tacoman25

Posted 20 October 2011 - 01:15 PM

After trending away from it with the 0z and 6z runs, 12z GFS is back to showing a significant snowstorm here on Wednesday. No consistency beyond 4 days right now, so have to wait and see where it trends from here.

tacoman25

Posted 21 October 2011 - 03:38 PM

With winter coming and inspired by the International Falls thread, here are some notable cold records for Boulder (I'm using them instead of Denver because Boulder has continuous records in the same general location back to 1893).

BlizzardWx

Posted 21 October 2011 - 09:51 PM

Still watching those models flip back and forth. At least today's 12 and 18z models all moved toward a colder solution. I am hopeful that both Colorado and Utah can do reasonably well.
As of right now I would be looking at T-2 inches of snow and highs in the upper 30s or low 40s, lows in the mid 20s.

baroclinic_instability

Posted 22 October 2011 - 11:16 AM

Still watching those models flip back and forth. At least today's 12 and 18z models all moved toward a colder solution. I am hopeful that both Colorado and Utah can do reasonably well. As of right now I would be looking at T-2 inches of snow and highs in the upper 30s or low 40s, lows in the mid 20s.

Little surprised the CO guys aren't discussing this a bit more. This is shaping up to be a good early season Front Range snow event.

Vandy

Posted 22 October 2011 - 05:11 PM

Little surprised the CO guys aren't discussing this a bit more. This is shaping up to be a good early season Front Range snow event.

Yeah I started paying attention today. It certainly looks promising. The consistency that something will happen is a big plus. Whatever happens, this sure beats last year when we didn't even get a storm to track until the end of the year.

Chinook

Posted 22 October 2011 - 05:19 PM

I looked at some of the models yesterday. I didn't particularly notice the breakaway Utah/Colorado shortwave trough. (Although I wasn't looking too closely.) It's possible the models have changed in the last 24 hours. Today the GFS and ECMWF show a robust storm. Actually the GFS shows 41.6mm of precipitation for Fort Collins, which is insane. I got that from the forecast meteograms at http://ready.arl.noa...v/READYcmet.php If that were true, and we got all snow with a 12:1 snow ratio, it would be 19.6 inches of snow. The GFS and ECMWF seem to have some agreement on the Utah/Colorado shortwave, so I think we can certainly expect snow above 6000ft.

Chinook

Posted 23 October 2011 - 11:19 PM

Winter Storm Watch issued from eastern Wyoming down to the Palmer Divide. Interestingly enough, there is a Red Flag Warning near Colorado Springs, which, I suppose, means they should be watching out for fires. Fires and Snow. Of course. How could we not have fires and snow on the same day?

tacoman25

Posted 24 October 2011 - 11:43 AM

Looking increasingly like the peak of the storm for Denver/Boulder will be about 2 am to 2 pm Wednesday. Earlier it appeared the peak would be more like Tue evening to Wednesday morning. Still looks good for a 4-8" storm for most of the metro area, with higher amounts in the foothills.

Posted 24 October 2011 - 12:58 PM

beavis1729

Posted 24 October 2011 - 01:41 PM

With winter coming and inspired by the International Falls thread, here are some notable cold records for Boulder (I'm using them instead of Denver because Boulder has continuous records in the same general location back to 1893).

Earliest sub-freezing temperature: 9/9/1941

Earliest sub-freezing high: 10/11/2009

Earliest sub-20 temperature: 9/29/1985

Earliest sub-10 temperature: 10/13/1969

Earliest sub-zero temperature: 10/29/1917

Coldest November temperature: -12 11/27/1919

Coldest December temperature: -24 12/22/1990

Coldest January temperature: -33 1/17/1930

Coldest February temperature: -28 2/9/1936

Coldest high temperature: -12 on 2/4/1989

Coldest March temperature: -13 3/9/1932

Wow, Boulder has been sub-zero in October...that's crazy.Colorado climate at its best...

baroclinic_instability

Posted 24 October 2011 - 06:43 PM

Gorgeous mountain wave activity today across all of the intermountain W ahead of the leading low ampltitude northern stream shortwave. Mountains waves in the Sierra Nevada, the Laramie Range, Front Range mainly in the Medicine Bows, and the Bighorns of Wyoming. I love mountain wave induced lee cirrus.

Attached Files

Chinook

Posted 24 October 2011 - 09:54 PM

Gorgeous mountain wave activity today across all of the intermountain W ahead of the leading low ampltitude northern stream shortwave. Mountains waves in the Sierra Nevada, the Laramie Range, Front Range mainly in the Medicine Bows, and the Bighorns of Wyoming. I love mountain wave induced lee cirrus.

Now, as to the precipitation type. The GFS shows some temperatures above freezing at 800mb. This shouldn't be too much of a problem. Maybe it will mean a couple of those millimeters will be in the form of rain. I'm not sure I want to shovel this much.

baroclinic_instability

Posted 25 October 2011 - 07:14 AM

It is going to be a mess of a commute Thursday morning for the entire Front Range Wednesday morning. IOt is going to be ripping it once you begin upsloping away from the Cheyenne Ridge and the northern Front Range. Foothills/Denver/Palmer Divide going to be a tricky commute. I am envious of you guys.

tacoman25

Posted 25 October 2011 - 11:42 AM

It is going to be a mess of a commute Thursday morning for the entire Front Range Wednesday morning. IOt is going to be ripping it once you begin upsloping away from the Cheyenne Ridge and the northern Front Range. Foothills/Denver/Palmer Divide going to be a tricky commute. I am envious of you guys.

NWS going with 6-12" for the city in their winter storm warning now, with higher amounts for the foothills and Palmer Divide.

Chinook

Posted 25 October 2011 - 02:07 PM

UPSLOPE WINDS COMBINING WITH THE
DYNAMICS OF THE UPPER TROUGH ANDJET STREAM WILL CREATE NEARLY
OPTIMAL CONDITIONS FOR SNOW TO FALL FOR SEVERAL HOURS OVERNIGHT.
TEMPERATURES WILL ALSO BE DOWN AROUND THE FREEZING MARK...ALLOWING
SNOW TO BEGIN ACCUMULATING SHORTLY AFTER IT BEGINS TO FALL.
FORECAST SNOW AMOUNTS MAY NEED TO BE BUMPED UP A LITTLE WITH THE
AFTERNOON PACKAGE.

boulderrr

Posted 25 October 2011 - 02:55 PM

UPSLOPE WINDS COMBINING WITH THE
DYNAMICS OF THE UPPER TROUGH ANDJET STREAM WILL CREATE NEARLY
OPTIMAL CONDITIONS FOR SNOW TO FALL FOR SEVERAL HOURS OVERNIGHT.
TEMPERATURES WILL ALSO BE DOWN AROUND THE FREEZING MARK...ALLOWING
SNOW TO BEGIN ACCUMULATING SHORTLY AFTER IT BEGINS TO FALL.
FORECAST SNOW AMOUNTS MAY NEED TO BE BUMPED UP A LITTLE WITH THE
AFTERNOON PACKAGE.

Wow.

Saw that in their discussion. I'm loving it. Clouds really starting to thicken over and especially north of Boulder. Still 52F with 48% RH, but the wind is out of the NE.